JEDDAH, 25 April 2004 — Saudi Arabia yesterday vowed to hunt down the terrorists who carried out Wednesday’s car bomb attack in Riyadh.
“It’s the work of a deviant few who wanted to undermine the country, terrorize peaceful people and kill Muslims,” a statement by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd said of the attack on a security building.
The bombing claimed the lives of five, including three security officers, and wounded 145 others, all Muslims. The statement said security forces would continue their campaign to track down the terrorists.
The statement came a day after police in Jeddah shot dead five terrorists including four from the most wanted list published in December last year. The statement blasted the terrorists for using Islam as a shield to cover up their crimes.
The king’s statement came in reply to Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad and Bahrain’s King Hamad. Both leaders strongly condemned the Riyadh bombing.
Earlier, during a meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sabah Al-Ahmed also denounced the terrorist attack.
The crown prince received a message of support from British Prime Minister Tony Blair. “I want to offer you and the people of Saudi Arabia my heartfelt condolences on the tragic bombing in Riyadh,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers are with those injured in the attack and the families and friends of those killed.”
Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, who visited four policemen and a civilian injured during the Jeddah shootout between security forces and terrorists, urged the public to support police in their hunt for terrorists.
He urged real estate owners to keep a record of people staying in their buildings.
